--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An innocent man, if accused, can be…" description: "\"An innocent man, if accused, can be acquitted; a guilty man, unless accused, cannot be condemned. It is, however, more advantageous to absolve an innoc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_accused_an-innocent-man-if-accused-can-be-acquit_1028847.jpg" --- # An innocent man, if accused, can be acquitted; a guilty… ![“An innocent man, if accused, can be acquitted; a guilty man, unless accused, cannot be condemned. It is, however, more advantageous to absolve an innocent than not to prosecute a guilty man.” quote by Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_accused_an-innocent-man-if-accused-can-be-acquit_1028847.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_accused_an-innocent-man-if-accused-can-be-acquit_1028847.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/898/marcus-tullius-cicero-157_accused_an-innocent-man-if-accused-can-be-acquit_1028847.jpg) > “An innocent man, if accused, can be acquitted; a guilty man, unless accused, cannot be condemned. It is, however, more advantageous to absolve an innocent than not to prosecute a guilty man.” [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cicero argues that justice requires prosecuting the guilty and protecting the innocent, emphasizing legal fairness. **In simple terms:** Justice needs both prosecution and protection. Key Takeaway Balance legal action with moral duty. Themes justice law ethics fairness Mood reflective serious Type legal ethical When to use this quote - courtrooms - law school debates - policy drafting Key Concepts legal theory moral philosophy due process Questions to Reflect On - How to ensure innocent are defended? - When should the state intervene? A Different Perspective Prosecutorial resources are limited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Guilty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilty/) [Innocence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocence/) [Innocent man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innocent-man/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [“The biblical story of the binding of Isaac shows that human sacrifice was far from unthinkable in the 1st millennium BCE. The Israelites boasted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-pinker/the-biblical-story-of-the-binding-of-isaac-shows-that-human-sacrifice/) [Steven Pinker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-pinker/) > [“A similar bout of affective realism gave birth to Florida’s controversial “Stand Your Ground” law. This law permits the use of deadly force in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-feldman-barrett/a-similar-bout-of-affective-realism-gave-birth-to-florida-s/) [Lisa Feldman Barrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-feldman-barrett/) > [I am an innocent man, but I don't want to indulge in any controversy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-qadeer-khan/i-am-an-innocent-man-but-i-don-t-want-to-indulge-in-any-controversy/) [Abdul Qadeer Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-qadeer-khan/) > [“ There is no client as scary as an innocent man. " J. Michael Haller, Criminal Defense Attorney, Los Angeles, 1962.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-connelly/there-is-no-client-as-scary-as-an-innocent-man-j-michael-haller/) [Michael Connelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-connelly/) > [“not Brutus. Brooks, Byrd, Dexter, Harrison, and Thornton. Where were they at lunchtime on 24 February? 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He laid his head on the chest of the Creator…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-w-goll/john-s-journey-with-his-lord-took-a-different-turn-from-that-of-the/) [James W. Goll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-w-goll/) > [“It is illegal to portal anyone while they are under duress,I could lose my license if I were to do so." "You're going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-macalister/it-is-illegal-to-portal-anyone-while-they-are-under-duress-i-could/) [Katie MacAlister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-macalister/) ## More by Marcus Tullius Cicero > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Let art, then, imitate nature, find what she desires, and follow as she directs. 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(Nothing is more unpredictable than the mob, nothing more obscure than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/nihil-est-incertius-vulgo-nihil-obscurius-voluntate-hominum-nihil/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The foundations of justice are that on one shall suffer wrong; then, that the public good be promoted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-foundations-of-justice-are-that-on-one-shall-suffer-wrong-then/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“The life of the dead is set in the memory of the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/the-life-of-the-dead-is-set-in-the-memory-of-the-living/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Pardon is granted to necessity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/pardon-is-granted-to-necessity/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [Friendship embraces innumerable ends; turn where you will it is ever at your side; no barrier shuts it out; it is never untimely and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/friendship-embraces-innumerable-ends-turn-where-you-will-it-is-ever/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [History is the witness of the times, the light of truth, the life of memory, the teacher of life, the messenger of antiquity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/history-is-the-witness-of-the-times-the-light-of-truth-the-life-of/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The Jews belong to a dark and repulsive force. 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